Baby blues is a mild and transient (usually ends in a few days) condition that could affect
up to 75-80% of mothers shortly after childbirth . Symptoms don’t last long: typically
from a few hours to a few days only, with symptoms such as mood swings, crying, some
anxiety and feeling down. Baby blues is not postpartum depression .
Postpartum depression (PPD) also happens after giving birth but is a form of clinical
depression which can affect women, and sometimes even men ! PPD in women is often
accompanied by PPD in men !
For Baby Blues,
after delivery, the placental "hormone factory" shuts down causing radical changes in
hormone levels, and the woman can suffer symptoms due to withdrawal from the high
pregnancy levels of female hormones like estrogen and progesterone . Combined with this
shift in hormone levels is the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion – as well as sleep
deprivation typical of parenting a newborn. All of these factors contribute to the
condition.
- Symptoms of Baby Blues are mild and short lived:
- Weepiness and bursting into tears
- Sudden mood swings
- Mild Anxiety and hypersensitivity to criticism
- Low spirits and irritability
- Poor concentration and indecisiveness
- Feeling ‘unbonded’ with baby
- Restless insomnia
For Post Partum Depression,
It occurs in women after delivery, and may last up to several months. This is a disorder !
It needs attention and possibly treatment. It’s an actual clinical depression which happens
after delivery. Symptoms are more severe than in baby blues and last much longer. They
include depressed mood, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, reduced sexual desire,
crying spells, severe anxiety, and irritability. Hormonal treatment has not helped
postpartum depression victims. Many women recover because of a support group or
counseling and treatment.
Predictors of Post Partum Depression
- A history of clinical depression
- Formula feeding rather than breast feeding
- Lack of social support
- Smoking
- Prenatal depression during pregnancy
- Poor marital relationship
- Infant temperament problems/ colic
- Single parent
- Low socioeconomic status
- Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
Numerous scientific studies and scholarly journal articles support the notion that
postpartum depression is treatable using a variety of methods. If the cause of PPD can be
identified, treatment should be aimed at mitigating the root cause of the problem,
including increased partner support, additional help with childcare, cognitive behavioral
therapy …
Women need to be taken seriously when symptoms occur.